What Was The Panama Canal Treaty Signed By President Jimmy Carter?

The Panama Canal Treaty was more or less a move by President Jimmy Carter to return the ownership of the Panama Canal to the nation of Panama. The final negotiations and signature were completed in the September of 1977. The move by President Carter to hand back the canal was greatly criticized by sections of the American Public and by the Republican Party as well. They argued that a very important strategic asset of the United States was being handed over to a government that was despotic and necessarily not pro American.

Contrary to what the opponents of the treaty believed the treaty did help improve relations between the United States and Panama as well as most of Latin America. President Jimmy Carter also visited the country and urged the regime to soften its domestic policies.